Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-03-19
washington Letter
To the Chronicle.

To the Chronicle.
Lent and the adjournment of Com
gress have made great calm in the
erst-while busy social world OF the Cap
itol. The change is especially noticea-
BILE at the White House, which has
been the scene OF almost constant and
brilliant official inequalities since the
beginning Of the season. It's mistress
(since the departure OF her mother and
death OF her grand-mother) has spent
most OF the time at their country home,
to which the President drives after the
duties Of the day are over, returning in
the morning.
Mrs. Cleveland is remarkably ami
able woman, and she has constant need
OF this attribute in her present position.
Every day during the past winter she
received quantities Of notes, cards, let.
ters and everything else in the shape OF
communication, and as young lady
visiting at the White House at that
that time remarked, "she really tried
to answer them ALL" Then people
would come to see her at all sorts OF in
convenient hours and she would some
times ask the usher if they were old or
young. If they were old people she
would 60 down to see them no matter
when they came.
The President is now giving his at
tention to the selection OF Interstate
Commerce Commissioners from among
the hundreds OF names that have been
recommended to him. Much OF the
delay in announcing the appointments
is due to his desire to select the best
possible men for the positions, and in
this he has been considerably restricted
by not being able to get the best quail
fed men to serve at the moderate sala-
ries fixed by the law.
The law provides that it shall go into
effect sixty days after its passage. The
time will expire on the fourth of April,
and as it is desirable that the Commits.
sioners should have some time for
organization and consultation before
that time, it is probable that the ap
pointments will be announced some
time this week. Nothing has been
made known at the White House as to
who will constitute the Commission
but it is the belief that Col. Morrison
of Illinois; Judge Coaley, of Michigan
and Col. Bragg of Alabama, will be the
three men selected.
Some of the most energetic and pub.
lie spirited citizens of Washington are
discussing the feasibility of holding
a carnival here at the conclusion Of the
National Drill in May, such as annually
takes place on Mardi Gras in New
Orleans. Advocates of the scheme
urge that unless the carnival be pushed
through now it will be impossible tc
hold one for four years. The Presiden.
tial campaign and the inauguration
ceremonies will furnish displays and
draw upon private purse strings suffi
GENTLY tor the next two years, and the
third year will witness the grand
Knights Templar conclave. 1t is esti
mated that any creditable Carniva
will necessitate an outlay of $4,000, anc
in order to save expense it is proposed
to buy or hire the costumes and cars O
the New Orleans Knights of Momus
and Proteus.
Capt. Eads, who was one of the best
known men in America, has been es
pecially well known in Washington fo
some years past. The "Jetty system
which figured before Congress for sc
many years, attracted more attention
than any other private or corporate
business before that body in the last
decade and "a half.
1t is said at the Mexican Legation
here that the death of Capt Eads will
not interfere with the status OF the con-
cession made to him by the Mexican
Government for ship railway across
the Peninsula OF Tehuantepec. The
concession included both Capt. Eads
and his associates in the enterprise, and
remains in force for a period OF ninety
ty-nine years. OF course his death
causes some speculation as to the prob
able fate of the scheme, as it may be
very difficult to find some one equally
well qualified to carry out the project.
Mr.. Connery, who has just been APP
pointed to the Mexican mission, has
has not declined the honor, as was re-
ported but has accepted that position.
The rumor about his refusal originated
in the dissatisfaction OF his friends, who
are axerse to his going there on what
th.y consider such inadequate compen-
satiOn. He, himself, insists that Ameri-